One of my silkie pullets, she exactly 3 months old today. About 2 weeks ago I went out in the morning as usual to feed them and I couldn't find her any where so I then look behind the coop and I saw her standing there and the back of her neck was litterally torn right off. I thought maybe something got her but wouldn't it have just eatten her. So now I'm thinking maybe it was one of the dominate hens. So I brought her inside and brought her to the vet, they said she didn't need stitches but needed to stay inside and have her bandaged changed twice a day, ok no problem she can stay inside as long as she wants. Well we went to the vet yesterday and he said she was well enough to go back out to the rest of the flock. I brought her out there today and put her in a seperate cage until the other birds got use to her again. I went out there about about 15 minutes ago and one of the hens got into the cage(I have no idea how it has a door on it) and I found the silkie with it's neck torn open again, and the guilty culperate(an araucana hen) inside the cage with the poor silkie. Well she's back inside and I just don't know what I'm going to do when she's better again and has to go back into the coop. This hen seems to pick on everyone. Should I get ride of the araucana hen or is there another solution? Thanks so much, Sophia!

The problem bird needs to find a new home. One thing you can try but you would have to be watchful, is to remove the trouble maker to an area where the others can't see her. Keep her there for a week or so, that should shake up the flock dynamics. Wait until the Silkie is ready to go back out to try it.

But since I'm a Silkie addict the bird would have left the moment I found out it was the culprit.

YOUCH!!!
Poor silkie!!!
I would think that keeping the silkie inside until she's completely healed would be a good idea. And take that Aracauna wench () outta there...That might take her down a few pegs in the pecking order...

We have a head hen who can just go out of her way to make others miserable. Several weeks ago her back was so bare I got worried about her being in the cold and brought her in for a week. When I put her out again I rigged up a baby bib for her back. The time in and the humiliation of the bib cost her some status. I've noticed she is much more mellow, less agressive. SO I'd try taking the problem hen out for a nice week-long time out. I hope she improves and that your silkie heals up. Poor thing!

claraserena, It's my opinion that this will work out ok, however it's always best to allow the younger bird to become 20 weeks old before attempting to place with older birds. Keeping them seperated, but close enough for others to see is the right idea. It just needs to be more secure.

The present flock in the coop feels. it's their water, their feed, their roost, etc and new birds need to be at laying age for the introduction to be successful, also the additional view time helps.

Pecking order will still occur, only with better results.

I also spray Blu-Kote on any red wounds to stop others from pecking at the blood spot.